north america local program guide - specialolympics.org · • part 3: resources. creating this ......

North America Local Program Guide

Why the guide is important

and how to use it.

US Business Meeting - July 17, 2018

Today we will review

2 / Special Olympics

• Purpose of the Guide and how it

was created

• Quick look at the contents and

how the guide is set up

• Styling and customizing the

Guide to meet your Program’s

needs

• Your ideas for how to best use

the Guide in your Program

• Why the Guide is important and

where to host the Guide in your

Program

The Purpose of This Guide:


• Serve as a resource for Local Program leadership

• Improve quality of the Local Program

• Provide necessary information and tools to manage the

Special Olympics Local Program in each community

• Establish the framework for each Local Program with

3 parts providing crucial information for success:

• Part 1: A Quick Start Guide to Developing a Local Program

• Part 2: Growing & Sustaining a Local Program

• Part 3: Resources

Creating this Guide…


Built Through Collaboration


This guide was a collaborative effort between

Special Olympics North America (SONA) and U.S.

Accredited Programs.

• Written by U.S. Accredited Program Staff with support

from SONA

• Reviewed with Local Program volunteers and staff at

Northwest Regional Meeting

• Shared with Accredited Program staff for feedback

The Local Program Guide Committee is the team

behind the creation of this guide.

Local Program Guide Committee

• Lisa DeNatale, Chair, Past CEO, Special Olympics

Vermont

• Priscilla Dowse, CEO, Special Olympics Wyoming

• Bob Norbie, CEO, Special Olympics Montana

• Berit Amlie, Special Olympics Florida

• Anna Guzdzial, Special Olympics Michigan

• Anne Goudie, Special Olympics Michigan

• Morgan Larche, Special Olympics Washington

• Leslie Low, PhD, Special Olympics Texas

• Sam Miller, Special Olympics Colorado

• Nancy Morehouse, Special Olympics Virginia

• Annette K. Lynch, Consultant and Project Leader


Customizable & Cost-Effective

A digital copy of this guide is available on SONA Resources

with customization possible for all Accredited Programs.


Customizable


• Customize the Local Program Guide with a Letter from your CEO

• Include a message to the Local Program Coordinators in your Program

“Local Program leadership is critical to the successful organization of Special Olympics

programs at the grassroots level. This is the foundation of our worldwide movement

and the starting point for each athlete’s participation.”

The Local Program Guide is created in 3 Parts:

Part 1: A Quick Start Guide to Developing a Local ProgramPart 2: Growing & Sustaining a Local ProgramPart 3: Resources


Part 1: Quick Start Guide


• Serves as a tool to engage new Local Program leadership,

providing the Local Program Coordinator with information

and tools necessary to build a foundation for the Local

Program

• Covers the Mission & Vision, Sports, Support Structure,

and more in order to provide Local Program Coordinators,

staff and volunteers with a comprehensive understanding of

Special Olympics and Local Programs

• Can be utilized by itself to introduce volunteer leadership to

the concept of Local Program Management or combined

with Parts 2 and 3

14

“Although each Local Program varies in size and culture, a team structure supports

opportunities for athletes, families, and additional volunteers as the program grows.”

Part 2: Further Developing Your Local Program


Special Olympics encourages Local Programs to look

ahead and plan for growth. In this section of the Guide,

Local Program Coordinators learn how to grow and

sustain their individual Local Programs.

This section helps to enhance Local Programs, offer

suggestions on how to best work towards developing

partnerships and how to effectively utilize technology

to the advantage of the Local Program.

19

“The Local Program engages with the public to provide sports training,

competition opportunities, and related activities. Through sports, Special

Olympics creates inclusive communities where all people respect one another

and work together for the greater good.”

Part 3: Resources


To ensure that each Local Program runs efficiently, this

guide offers an entire section dedicated

to resources.

Included in the Resources section are:

• Sample checklists and useful tools

• Best practice tips

• Local Program management team position descriptions

Accredited Programs are encouraged to include their own Resources in this section.


Part 3: Resources

“Through sports, Special Olympics also creates ongoing opportunities for

physical activity and socialization, fostering greater athlete involvement and

satisfaction – which are critical to Special Olympics’ growth.”

Styling and Updating your Guide…


Adding your Logo to the Header


To add your logo to the Header, move your cursor over the

existing logo and double click. Next, right click on the

current logo and select “Change Picture” from the drop-

down menu. Upload the image of your logo. To leave the

header edit mode, hit “close” when done.


The Table of Contents

Tip: Clicking on an item

in the Table of Contents

will automatically jump

to that section of the

Guide.

• For PC Users: Hold

“Ctrl” and then click


Updating The Table of Contents

To update the Table of Contents, click on “References” in

your top toolbar. Next, select the “Update Table” icon as

shown in the left image above. When prompted, be sure to

select “Update page numbers only” and click “OK”. This will

ensure that the Table of Contents styles remain the same.

The Styles Pane


The Guide follows a set of text styles.

To view the Styles Pane, click on “Home”

in your top toolbar and select the “Styles

Pane” icon, as shown in the image to

the left.

Tip: To only see styles being used, select

“Styles in Use” from the “List” drop down

at the bottom.

Using the Styles Pane


To use the Styles Pane, simply highlight the text you wish

to change/update and select any of the listed styles. The

text will automatically update to match your selection.

Adding Links


To create a hyperlink,

highlight text, click on

“Insert”, select “Hyperlink”.

When prompted, add the

full web URL.

Tip: Links must be fully

written out so that users

will be able to use links

when referencing a printed

version of the Guide.

Use the search bar in the

top toolbar to easily find

a word or phrase that you

are looking for. The

word/phrase you typed in

will highlight every where

it is located in the Guide.


Search Bar

The Customize Icon

You will find this icon next to

sections that may be customized

to fit your Local Program.

Tip: You can remove the icon by

simply clicking on it and hitting

“Delete”/”Backspace” on your

keyboard.


The Guide will automatically save as a Word Document.

To save as a PDF, Go to “File” at the top of the program

and select “Save As”.

In the file format drop-down, select “PDF”.

Saving the Guide


34

“While everyone in the Special Olympics global movement plays a vital role, the

importance of the Local Program level of the organization cannot be emphasized

enough. It is at the grassroots level of the movement that most people engage with

Special Olympics. This grassroots level is where fans cheer on their family, friends,

and neighbors who compete, and it is where communities of inclusion are built.”

Why the Guide is important to our Programs and Where to host the Guide


ADD - Why the Guide is

important from CEO

perspective!



All Local Program Guides should be easily accessible

on your Accredited Program’s website under either

the Local Programs or Resources section.

Accessibility is Key

Suggestions or Updates?

Please contact Nora Mason with suggestions

for updates or edits:

[email protected]


mailto:[email protected]

Thank you to all who have contributed to the SONA

Local Program Guide and to all who are committed to

utilizing this new resource to impact Local Programs

throughout North America. Together we will

continually improve overall Program excellence

throughout our region.


north america local program guide - specialolympics.org · • part 3: resources. creating this ......

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